CFU
What are we going to do?
What does determine mean?
determine means __________.
Learning Objective: 4L2
Determine theme of story.
Vocabulary
1
determine means find
What are we doing today?
Partner share
Today we will determine the_______________
of a story.
APK
Pinocchio's nose grew every time he told a lie
what do you think is the lesson Pinocchio
learned?
The lesson Pinocchio learned is___________.
Concept Development
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
Example: Cinderella’s Theme
Good things happen to good people.
CFU
What is theme?
Can you think of another theme
from Cinderella_______
Vocabulary
parable – story that teaches a lesson
Fable: a story that has a moral
Concept Development
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
Theme of a piece of literature is a message about people, life, and
the world we live in that the author wants the reader to understand
Non Example: Topic is the main idea or the gist of the story.
Topic
A talking spider
helps a pig
Theme
Self- Sacrifice
True Friendship
Perseverance
CFU
What is the difference between topic and
theme?
Skill Development/Guided Practice
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
Determine the theme.
1 Read the text
2 Determine the challenge or problem of the story
3 How does the main character respond to the challenges or
CFU
1 How did I/you determine the
theme?
problems to determine theme
2 What clues did I use to
determine the theme?
Teacher Model Theme
Rock Climbing
One weekend I went to visit my aunt and uncle who lived in another town. My uncle
was a rock climbing coach for an afterschool program in that town. He offered to take
me rock climbing with the other kids in his group. I had never been rock climbing
before. I was a little afraid of heights, and I was really afraid of looking foolish in front
of other kids. I told my fears to my uncle. He told me that he understood my fears but
that I would be safe at all times. I would be connected to a safety harness if I fell. My
uncle also pointed out that I shouldn’t be worried about looking foolish. The other kids
in this group had never rock climbed either. I felt a lot better after I heard this, and I
looked forward to learning how to rock climb.
What is the theme? What is your evidence?
The theme is ______________ my evidence from the text is __________________________.
Skill Development/Guided Practice
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
Determine the theme.
1 Read the text
2 Determine the challenge or problem of the story
3 How does the main character respond to the challenges or
problems to help determine theme
CFU
1 How did I/you determine the
theme?
2 What clues did I use to
determine the theme?
Teacher Model
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this
soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to
swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never
forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The
Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his
paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who
desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a
wagon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the
sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that
bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.
What is the theme? What is your evidence?
The theme is ______________ my evidence from the text is __________________________.
Relevance
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
1 Determining theme will help you connect with the story, drama, or
poem you are reading and better understand the author’s purpose
CFU
Does anyone else have another
reason why it is relevant to
determine themes? (PairShare) Why is it relevant to
determine themes? You may
give one of my reasons or one
of your own. Which reason is
more relevant to you? Why?
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 4th Grade Reading Informational Text 5.3
Describe the cause-and-effect structure of text.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Skill Development/Guided Practice
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
Determine the theme.
1 Read the text
2 Determine the challenge or problem of the story
3 How does the main character respond to the challenges or
problems to determine theme
CFU
1 How did I/you determine the
theme?
2 What clues did I use to
determine the theme?
Guided Practice
HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who
replied, laughing: 'Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race.'
The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, agreed to the
proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the
goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The Tortoise
never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight
to the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep.
At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had
reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue.
What is the theme? What is your evidence?
The theme is ______________ my evidence from the text is __________________________.
Skill Development/Guided Practice
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a
writer wishes to express
Determine the theme.
1 Read the text
2 Determine the challenge or problem of the story
3 How does the main character respond to the challenges or
problems to determine theme
CFU
1 How did I/you determine the
theme?
2 What clues did I use to
determine the theme?
Guided Practice
A New School
Last summer my family moved to a new town. I missed my old house and my
friends. The only familiar thing was my violin. I spent most of the summer in my room,
playing the violin. My dad knew I was sad and missed my old friends. He came to meet
me after my first day of school. He suggested we go back into school to meet the music
teacher. Ms. Moore was friendly and happy to meet me. She encouraged me to join the
school orchestra. When I went to the first orchestra meeting, I was nervous. Meg, a girl in
my class, was there. She plays the violin, too. We sat together during the meeting. The
next day, Meg invited me to eat lunch with her friends. Now that I’ve found other
musicians, I think that I might enjoy this new school
What is the theme? What is your evidence?
The theme is ______________ my evidence from the text is __________________________.
Skill Closure
Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a writer
wishes to express
Determine the theme.
1 Read the text
2 Determine the challenge or problem of the story
3 How does the main character respond to the challenges or
problems to determine theme
The Fox and the Cat
Aesop
A fox was boasting to a cat of its clever devices for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of
tricks," he said, "which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies." "I have only one,"
said the cat. "But I can generally manage with that." Just at that moment they heard the cry of a
pack of hounds coming towards them, and the cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid
herself in the boughs. "This is my plan," said the cat. "What are you going to do?" The fox
thought first of one way, then of another, and while he was debating, the hounds came nearer
and nearer, and at last the fox in his confusion was caught up by the hounds and soon killed by
the huntsmen. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, said, "Better one safe way than a hundred
on which you cannot reckon."
Word Bank
What is the theme? What is your evidence?
The theme is ______________ my evidence from the text is
__________________________.
©2013 All rights reserved.
theme
determine
CCSS 4th Grade Reading Informational Text 5.3
Describe the cause-and-effect structure of text.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.